Most people understand the importance of networking for their business – the increased contacts and opportunities for development, the ability to make friendships amongst peers and look for problem solving solutions through group discourse and, of course, to forge valuable workplace connections which can help with staffing needs. However, this can be difficult to achieve when one is working from home. The usual networking opportunities – such as dinners, benefits or events – can be relatively inaccessible for someone working alone, without the influence of big business backing.

For those coming from a self-employment background, there are other ways to network than the standard channels. The internet opens up new methods of communication. Message boards and online forums are effective ways of sharing information. Responding to other people’s posts helps to establish sources of information and make your brand appear credible and knowledgeable, and people will begin to associate your brand name with the help they received on the internet. There are forums specifically tailored to a wide range of fields and industries on which serious professionals often advertise their services. Developing relationships on the internet can be a valuable way of forging networks and connections. Read more

Let’s face it. This is not going to be one of those articles where they say, “Put in quality articles“ or “Put in pictures”. I won’t waste your time with silly stuff like that. Here’s the truth: You’ve got to write about what you’re tribe is interested in. That’s what makes a blog interesting. It’s something I want to read. You cannot be interesting to the whole world. You can be fascinating to your whole tribe. Just write what the tribe is looking for. Keep it sweet. Keep it simple.

Here’s your in-depth how-to: Look at what your tribe is talking about on social media. Look at what they’re talking about on their own blogs and specifically write posts that address that. It’s called “eavesdropping”. Yes, you eavesdrop on your tribe and you write about what they already want to know about. The social media is like having a party line to everybody in town. So, take a moment. Look up your e-mail list. Look up their domains. Look at their social media. Go to their websites. See what they’re doing and address exactly what they want to know and what they’re talking about. And you’ll be fascinating. And you’ll get a lot of traffic. Read more